Variety of calla lily plant named &#39;Red Charm&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Red Charm’ is a new variety of  calla  lily having inflorescences with a red-colored spathe that produces 3-14 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 40 cm in height. The leaves are green with whitish spots, a red-colored margin, and a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/964,771, filed on Jan. 14, 2014, and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘RED CHARM’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Red Charm’.

‘Red Charm’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling referred to as Z051059 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling referred to as Z041373 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Red Charm’ was selected in 2009 by the inventor in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Red Charm’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2009 in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in a 14 cm pot in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Red Charm’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Red-colored spathe;

2. Red-colored leaf margin; and

3. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Red Charm’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri seedlings Z051059 and Z041373.

TABLE 1 ‘Red Charm’ Similarities Differences Z051059 Spathe shape Spathe color Plant height Z041373 Number of spathes Spathe shape Plant height Spathe color

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of one plant of the new variety centered in the frame;

FIG. 2 is photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a group of multiple tissue culture plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 20-40 cm.             Height of top of inflorescence above the soil: 15-40 cm.             Diameter: 15-45 cm.         -   Form.—Erect.         -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in             diameter: 3-8 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter:             4-10 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 5-14             inflorescences.         -   Branches.—Character: Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 18,833). Color: Between Red-Purple Group RHS             59A and 60A.         -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 5-12 cm. Length: 10-30 cm. Number per             plant: 12-22. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group RHS 136A to 136B. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137A             to 137B. Margin: Undulate; having a color of Red-Purple             Group RHS 59A to 59B. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color:             Green Group RHS 143B to Yellow-Green Group 144A. Surface             quality: Leathery. Petiole: Length: 20-40 cm. Color: The             base is White Group RHS 155A, and the upper part is             Red-Purple Group RHS 59A to 59B.         -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other             Zantedeschia varieties. -   The inflorescence and seeds:     -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from base opening to tip):             5-11 cm. Width: 3.5-6 cm. Height: 5-8 cm. Color: Upper             surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187B and             187C. Lower surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS             186C and 187A. Vein color: Between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A             and 60B. Shape: Cupped.         -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 15-40 mm. Diameter: 3-10 mm. Color:             Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17C. Position             relative to spathe: Upright.         -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 13-30 cm. Diameter: 5-13 mm. Color:             The upper part is between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186C and             187A, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal             position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper             position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:             Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More             than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and             155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:             Between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A and 17C. Filament:             Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group RHS 155A             and 155B. Pistil: Number: 15 to 30.Length beyond perianth:             About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.             Style: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 11A and 11B. Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1             to 10 mm. Width: Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is             between Red-Purple Group RHS 60A and 60B, bottom color is             from White Group RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-30. -   General:     -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases             noticed to date.         -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed             to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.         -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands             in February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted             outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in             July.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily named ‘Red Charm’ as herein described and illustrated. 